State Senator Greg Brophy is a farmer and avid cyclist. He represents 12 counties in eastern Colorado. He's been called one of the most conservative members of the legislature and a Prius driving, bicycle riding, eco freak. You decide...

About Me

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Denver just like Washington DC

The striking similarities between the way Congress acts and the way the Colorado General Assembly acts some times shock and disappoint.

Take HB10-1001 which raises the renewable energy standard for the two power companies that serve the Front Range from 20% to 30% by the year 2020.

I still remember the summer of 2008 when gas hit $4.00, natural gas spiked, and everyone’s utility bills were outrageous. I’m afraid that those days may come back, so I support an “all of the above” energy strategy that promotes development of a wide variety of energy sources so we will never again be hostage to one source of energy.

1001 doesn’t do that. It carves out market share for chosen and favorite sources of electricity without allowing out of favor forms of energy a seat at the table. Special interests controlled the bill, just like they so often do in Washington DC. And, just like when the socialized health care bill passed, 1001 passed without one Republican vote.

Further, embedded in the bill, is another carve out for another special interest. Just like in WDC, the unions have favor with the majority party, so they get special consideration in the installation of solar panels in Colorado.

Read the law out loud, it’s embarrassing.

(a) (I) THE PERFORMANCE OF ALL PHOTOVOLTAIC ELECTRICAL WORK,THE INSTALLATION OF PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES, AND THE INSTALLATION OFPHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE MOUNTING EQUIPMENT SHALL BE SUBJECT TOON-SITE SUPERVISION BY A CERTIFIED PHOTOVOLTAIC ENERGY PRACTITIONERAS DESIGNATED BY THE NORTH AMERICAN BOARD OF CERTIFIED ENERGYPRACTITIONERS (NABCEP) OR ANOTHER NATIONALLY RECOGNIZEDPROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION DESIGNATED BY THE COLORADO STATEELECTRICAL BOARD BY RULE.

The performance of all work: in other words, you can’t even do it yourself anymore.

Maybe one of the most frustrating and entertaining parts to read is this:

(I) DURING ANY PHOTOVOLTAIC ELECTRICAL WORK, THE RATIO OFTHE NUMBER OF PERSONS WHO ARE ASSISTING WITH THE WORK AND WHOARE NEITHER LICENSED ELECTRICIANS NOR REGISTERED ELECTRICALAPPRENTICES TO THE NUMBER OF PERSONS WHO ARE CERTIFIED AS PROVIDEDIN PARAGRAPH (a) OF THIS SUBSECTION (1) SHALL NEVER EXCEED THREE TOONE, AND A PERSON WHO IS BOTH LICENSED AND CERTIFIED SHALL NOTCOUNT DOUBLE FOR PURPOSES OF MEASURING THIS RATIO; AND

Yes, the law controls approved to non-approved (cheaper) workers at the work site.

This bill was 1001, the number one bill of importance in the Colorado House and part of Governor Ritter’s agenda for the year. The agenda in Denver is no different than the agenda in Washington DC: special interest legislation to empower the party and the party’s friends.